Back in June, I stumbled across a blogging contest that was being hosted by Ebay. They gave out a specific topic to write a blog post about and were having some super successful bloggers judge the submissions and choose the winner who would then receive a pretty amazing prize for their efforts. On a whim I threw together a vintage inspired summer style submission and MUCH to my surprise, I won! The submission was judged by the AMAZING Justina Blakeney (seriously, love everything she does. If you've somehow never heard of her, go check her out. You will not be sorry.) who is basically the queen of all things Bohemian Glam. Every house she styles or features is absolutely #goals so it was a major honor to even be momentarily on her radar.

So while it is obviously a bit belated, I actually caught myself thinking this past weekend, "Good lord, it's oppressively hot. I wish I had a big, flowy kaftan in my closet right now. The thought of putting real clothes on makes me want to retreat to a dark cave and not come out until December."...or something along those lines. A pretty common thought for most people, most of the year, here in Florida. That exact thought was what kind of inspired my post to begin with so here ya go!

So, the cat is obviously out of the metaphorical bag now, but I am officially set up in the new, super gorgeous Retromended location! Brandy, the lovely owner, moved from her quaint little Lake Ivanhoe space and now into her airy, clean, spacious new Mills/50 location next to Tako Cheena! I know she's put SO much work into this space and it definitely shows!

So, now that she has all of this space she asked if a couple of other local vintage and handmade vendors would like to join her and when she approached me OF COURSE I said "uhhhh absolutely!". I am so insanely excited to be set up alongside some extremely talented vendors and makers and being exposed to so many vintage fans who love what we do. The shop has only been open two days now and has been so well-recieved and I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for this new location and being able to be apart of it all is such an honor! I have soo many new items that I intend to start rotating into the store, it's insaaaane and I'm so happy to have such a great, supportive space to show all of my pieces. Everyone should definitely run and check out the new shop and all of the amazing, well-curated items that Retromended has to offer!

In the meantime, here is a list of the other vendors you can catch there:

Phew, it has certainly been awhile since I've updated and for that, I apologize. Things have been kinda crazy but I think I can say with certainty that it's all been good stuff. As most of you know, though I guess I never made a formal announcement here, I moved into the Adjectives Market in Altamonte at the beginning of January. It was definitely a learning experience to say the least. It was kind of a bummer not to be able to do the local markets and such at the time because I really felt like I kind of lost touch with people, customers, etc. which is obviously the most important part. So, now a short 7 months later, I have officially moved OUT of Adjectives Market. It seems they are going through their own special set of changes so I think it was obviously a good time for everyone to part ways as friends.

Now for the fun stuff! I'm jumpin' right back into it and this weekend, July 31st from 1:00-5:00p.m. I will be setting up shop in the Milk District for the Milk District Market 3! While I've done more than my fair share of hanging out there, I've actually never set up at an event in the Milk District so I'm super excited! It's always a good time over there and I'm really looking forward to checking out some of the fellow vendors. It's looking like it's going to be a really cool line-up.

​Then coming up next month on August 27th, I will be yet again setting up at the Big Bang Bazaar at the Central Florida Fairgrounds! This will be my 3rd time in this show and it is always such a massive event and so much fun! There are about a bazillion vendors packed under one roof and if you're one of the first 100 people in line you get a giant swag bag full of goodies from basically every vendor in attendance so that's not too shabby either!

​Aaaaaaaaaaand totally unrelated to the shop whatsoever but solely because I'm a huge fan of gratuitous pet photos, we're fostering another pup! Poor old man is 12 years old and was unceremoniously dumped at a Tampa shelter. Literally, it was down to the wire and I saw his photo maybe one day before he was a goner. Phew! We definitely don't have the room (we have two other SharPei foster failures that we couldn't bring ourselves to part with) but I couldn't just NOT do anything. I have a gigantic soft spot for senior animals so I went for it and he is THE sweetest guy ever.

​​​Such a busy couple of weeks ahead of me! I am beyond grateful for the opportunities to get to participate in some super fun markets over the next couple of weeks. Last week I did the holiday installment of the Deland Indie Market which is always such a great time. All of the shoppers are super sweet and encouraging and the other vendors are also extremely helpful and supportive, it's always an amazing day!

This coming weekend I will be setting up for the Holiday installment of the Big Bang Bazaar (Hey look! I made it onto the flyer! I have arrived!! haha). I did one of these events over the summer and it was fantastic. SUCH a huge crowd and tons of amazing vendors. So much to look at it's a wonder I make it out of there with even a single penny left to my name. This one will be held at the Sanford Civic Center from 11:00am- 5:00pm on Sunday, December 6th. I believe it's a $5 charge to get in at the door but the first 100 people in line get a pretty epic swag bag with all kinds of goodies from the various vendors so that's always fun!

My last big weekend of events will be the following weekend of December 12th and 13th.

December 12th I will be journeying down to Sarasota for the 10th Anniversary of the Atomic Holiday Bazaar. It seems like it's a pretty big deal down there and I'm already super stoked for the other vendors I'm going to be selling alongside. I am super excited to get to meet Adrian, the bossbitch who runs this show each year (the rad lady in the flyer above) and I also have family down that way so ya know, two birds!

Almost immediately after the Atomic Holiday Bazaar is over I have to pack up and high-tail is back to Orlando for The Lovely Market Boutique's Vintage Holiday Bazaar being held right in my 'hood, Audubon Park in Orlando. It'll be going down (Sunday, December 13th) from 1:00pm-6:00pm and I am always super thrilled to get to participate in events that are held in my neighborhood. It's been building up so much over the past couple of years that we've lived there so it's nice to kind of get in on the ground floor, so to speak. It's a really great community and they're always hosting some super fun event constantly throughout the year so I am definitely excited.

December 13th will conclude my holiday selling season and I will likely be taking a brief break from pop-up markets for awhile as I am working on another really exciting project set to launch at the beginning of the new year. I say I will be taking a break as I think this new venture may require my full attention for a little bit until I get all of the details hammered out but I will definitely keep everyone posted with details once I have them!

I hope everyone has an amazing holiday season and hopefully I'll see ya out and about at some of the markets!

Happy October Everyone! I can not even begin to wrap my mind around how quickly this year has been flying by! It's been insane at my 9-5 lately (like checking emails at 4am on Friday nights, traveling all over the place, panic attacks, the whole thing) so to say I am BEYOND ready for things to slow back down so I can get back to focusing on my passion projects would be a colossal understatement. I have been trying to line up as many holiday pop-ups and shows as possible and am delighted to say that I was invited back to participate in the Deland Indie Market which is coming up on October 11th. I had a blast at the one that was held over the summer AND it was my first "real" official event so I am definitely excited to get to come back with a much better (a.k.a. less terrified) idea of what's happening. It's crazy how much doing just a few shows can create so much ease, so quickly.

Anyway! I've been (as usual) stockpiling fun new items to bring with me! LOTS of new goodies. There will be also be SO many other fun retailers out there as well, it's definitely a really great event. Check out some of the other vendors or for more information, check out their Facebook page here: Deland Indie Market at Artisan Alley

What's up everyone! I just wanted to give a little heads up, this weekend I will be posting up at the Big Bang Bazaar at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. We will be there from 11am - 6pm, Saturday August 22nd. There are like 200 vendors that will be set up, food, music, the whole shebang and it should be a really fun day.

The first 100 people in the door get a complimentary swag bag with all kinds of goodies which were contributed by the vendors participating that day so get there early! I don't know what all treasures have been contributed but I, myself, will be passing out free vintage fabric covered button earrings soooo ya know, there's that!

Aside from the swag bags I have also added some suuuuper cute new pieces to my line up that will be making their debut at the Bazaar so swing by, hang out and find your 60's dress soulmate!

﻿Bonjour everyone! As the title of my post may have given away, today is the day of the Audubon Park Bastille Day festival! Though in true American fashion, for us it's really just a day to celebrate and have some fun in our little community, this festival has been a pretty big to-do around here for a few years now. The entire neighborhood participates, there are crepe breakfasts, French wine and cheese pairing classes, all of the shops are giving away French champagne and featuring French themed merchandise, there is even baguette fencing and Marie Antoinette impersonators (complete with guillotine! yipes!). It's definitely a fun, event filled day! ﻿

This afternoon at Redlight Redlight, an awesome and super well-known (and most importantly, a solid twenty-step walk from my front door! such convenience!) craft beer bar will be hosting the Rogue Rogue Market from 4:00 - 7:00 which will be offering an extensive list of French libations available for your enjoyment and is also allowing for a few vendors to set up shop inside as well! Obviously, myself being one of them but also be on the lookout for:

The Re-Up Cycle which creates a host of items, from succulent planters to jewelry, created from recycled materials.

Bamapana Vintage which offers pristine, authentic men's vintage clothing. SO many dapper items to choose from. More gents should definitely be taking a page from their look book!

My Lou Jewels who offers amazing handmade modern heirloom jewelry. I am definitely going to be scooping something up from them this evening!

Blue Betty which is another local clothing/accessories retailer specializing in recycled and vintage materials and she also has her own Shasta mobile boutique! I should totally pick her brain on this giant, Shasta-sized undertaking I have signed myself up for haha

I know there will be more vendors than that (so sorry if I missed someone) that I am super excited to meet as well! In the meantime, I figured some super saucy vintage French fashion might be JUST the thing to get everyone inspired and excited for this evening! Enjoy!

Wow! This entire month, between the shop, the 9-to-5 and just life, it has been a complete whirlwind! I keep trying to stop and catch my breath but it just never seems to happen! Last month I participated in the Deland Indie Market and it was my first big market and I adored it! Aside from it being as hot as the surface of the sun out there (big shock) it was such a good time! I met lots of super nice fellow vendors and got a taste of what the market circuit is like. Most importantly, I got a huge taste of what it's like to haul ALLLLL of my vintage and supplies around and the whole set-up process. It was no small feat, lemme tell ya. But with the help and support of my lovely (and oh so patient) friends and fam, I pulled it all together and met some super sweet vintage admirers and even made a few sales (which was just icing on the cake)!

My 9-to-5 job has been NONSTOP since the week after the Deland show. I had to immediately fly out to Grand Rapids, MI for a super short notice meeting with a buyer. I was largely prepared, despite the short notice, but these meetings are still fairly new to me and I am always so nervous when one sneaks up on me. I did get to meet some work contacts up there for the meeting and my sweet MI friend Vanessa took me out and showed me the town and we had a total blast! The buildings were so old and interesting and it probably goes without saying that Michigan is absolutely nothing like Florida, so I am always super stoked to see new places and how other people live. We went to a few divey, hole-in-the-wall bars (just my speed!), went to a hilarious karaoke bar and then ended the evening with some tasty veggie dogs. Not. Too. Shabby.

﻿After the meeting in Michigan work just started to stockpile and faaaast. New accounts, and high maintenance accounts no less, started piling up and before I knew it, it was time for Virginia Drive Live which happened this past weekend! I was so pleased to notice that this time all of the pre-show preparation was a mere fraction of the previous shows so I felt pretty good going into it, despite the whirlwind couple of weeks. Even the transport and set up was a total breeze compared to the Deland show (thanks to my brilliant parents and their assistance). I had lots of friends stroll though and visit which was a lovely surprise and also met a ton of super sweet people from the neighborhood who were all too happy to swing by and talk shop with me, which is always a pleasant escape from the daily grind. Thanks to anyone who may be reading who stopped by and showed their support, it was seriously such a fun night!﻿

Hope everyone has a great week! xox

So apparently I had some sort of good juju on my side the past couple of days because I got accepted into not one but TWO super awesome upcoming markets that will be going down this summer! I've been just an observer/shopper at these markets in the past and to say that I'm excited to get to participate is definitely an understatement! I will definitely keep everyone up to date as the events get closer but for now, these are the two that I have now on the books. Stay tuned for more updates!xox Jess

Good news! I made it through unscathed! I completed my first, in-person "pop-up" event last night and it was great! With the frenzied preparation and fear of who knows what, I feel like participating in this event will really take a lot of the anxiety out of these types of situations for me in the future. I am definitely on the lookout for any other fairs/pop-ups/markets that are coming up because I know the only way I will ever be comfortable is if I just keep doing them. It has been a bit difficult thus far getting included in these types of shows since I'm still so new to the game (or seemingly anyway as I've actually been at this for about 5 years now, albeit pretty secretively) but it'll come with time, I'm sure. In the meantime, here are a couple of pictures from last night (beware, the lighting was not exceptional). Lots of fun and friends, adult beverages and super cool vendors. So happy I just said "yes" without overthinking it, for once hah ​xox